tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post8498297705296451589..comments2024-03-19T20:31:23.141-05:00Comments on The Chuck Cowdery Blog: Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2012, Let The Bitching Commence.Chuck Cowderyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-42565014331877886352012-09-21T00:33:26.754-05:002012-09-21T00:33:26.754-05:00Chuck, I could not agree more.
As a young profes...Chuck, I could not agree more. <br /><br />As a young professional raised in the western part of the state, educated in Lexington and now living in Louisville, KY I consider myself one who has more pride in the Commonwealth as a whole than most. I truly try to embrace the few things this state can really hang its hat on, but the third weekend in September in Nelson County is not one of them. At this point, anyone expecting something more than a big fall festival is in store for a let down. I am a big believer in playing to one's strengths and in Kentucky, that can sometimes be few and far between. Outside of Horses, Bourbon, Basketball and sadly Chicken, most folks, I imagine, typically take a pejorative few of the Bluegrass.<br /><br />I am fully aware of the self proclaimed "The Bourbon Capital of the World," and am a big proponent of one of America's favorites small towns. Though I still think the voting may have been skewed on that one. Bardstown, unlike Frankfort, Lawrenceberg or Lexington or even Louisville truly does have the most potential to host this event. With a rich heritage and culture in the spirit, they have a unique opportunity with the close proximity of Beam, Heaven Hill, Tom Moore and Makers Mark all within roughly a 30 mile radius. Heck, I'll even count KBD Inc. - even if they are rectifiers. The area distilleries are much more tightly packed together than the Bluegrass leg to the Bourbon Trail and the downtown is quaint enough to give off the small town Southern vibe that most Kentuckians outside of Jefferson County can relate to. One would think that someone would have figured out the recipe by now. But the event organizers can't even set the date right. When a large majority of their potential instate crowd is in a parking lot at Papa Johns or Commonwealth Stadium drinking more brown liquor for free by the jug cheering on subpar collegiate football teams (on good year) than there are standing on the baseball diamond or at the penguin tailed gala, something's wrong.<br /><br />Sadly, I am hesitant to even call it the "Kentucky Bourbon Festival" because I do not think the title accurately reflects the events at hand. Don't get me wrong, I love Bardstown. Have friends there, was invited down again this year to attend the festivities - unfortunately I could not make it and the weather was beautiful - and will do my best to attend again in the future. But the skinny, and you are right, it is Bardstown's celebration of bourbon - not Kentucky's. <br /><br />I love Kentucky and I love Bourbon. It's just too bad the two can't come together to show off what each really have to offer. john pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-66135513736653602942012-09-20T23:14:04.972-05:002012-09-20T23:14:04.972-05:00I don't know, Justin. I've never been to a...I don't know, Justin. I've never been to a WhiskyLive. I hear good things.Chuck Cowderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-55942389646119391832012-09-20T19:58:02.986-05:002012-09-20T19:58:02.986-05:00I know its not exclusively Bourbon but are the Whi...I know its not exclusively Bourbon but are the Whiskylive shows worth going to?<br /><br />Justin Victornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-91900373018192124572012-09-19T15:48:29.363-05:002012-09-19T15:48:29.363-05:00My suggestion for a first-time Bourbon Country vis...My suggestion for a first-time Bourbon Country visitor is don't come for the KBF. Come some other time of the year, tour a few distilleries, and at least one of the cooperages. Pick one base of operations and visit the Frankfort-Lexington area one day and the Bardstown area another. If you enjoy urban amenities, make Louisville or Lexington your base. How much you enjoy your Bardstown visit will indicate how much you would enjoy the KBF. This is for someone planning a two day trip. If you can stay longer, there is plenty to see.Chuck Cowderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-15044611096290579892012-09-19T13:20:37.881-05:002012-09-19T13:20:37.881-05:00I have attended the Festival for the last ten year...I have attended the Festival for the last ten years. I have seen it, as Chuck sees it for the last eight years. I no longer attend. The only thing I miss is not seeing my friends in Bardstown.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-70631174234413870592012-09-19T09:38:03.159-05:002012-09-19T09:38:03.159-05:00Though Bardstown "won't let go" of t...Though Bardstown "won't let go" of the KBF, there's no reason that another location couldn't start their own, is there?<br /><br />With all that's going on in Louisville right now, maybe they'll start up their own festival and welcome the world the way Bardstown can't (or won't).sam knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-7995649754422096932012-09-19T07:38:59.820-05:002012-09-19T07:38:59.820-05:00As bourbon continues on in its latest growth spurt...As bourbon continues on in its latest growth spurt I wonder how many newcomers will be sorely disappointed by what you so aptly describe. It would be nice to see some of your suggestions implemented. Thank goodness for the late Saturday morning barrel relay and the wonderful "sense of place" it does deliver.T Compnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-12009673066555952062012-09-18T19:08:46.388-05:002012-09-18T19:08:46.388-05:00Wow. Initially, I was surprised by this.
Then ag...Wow. Initially, I was surprised by this. <br /><br />Then again, having spoken with the nice folk from a distillery gift shop (over the phone), they suggested we make the trip to KY after the festival, and seemed to suggest it wasn't really a must-see event, especially if you don't like crowds. <br /><br />So, conclusion, for first-time visitors, should we do a one-two punch of Bardstown, Louisville and horse country?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-84284769325141538562012-09-18T05:54:05.185-05:002012-09-18T05:54:05.185-05:00Well put Chuck! As an out-of-towner AND first tim...Well put Chuck! As an out-of-towner AND first time KBF attendee, things like the Spirit Garden made no sense. Having to pay for a pin to get into a fenced in area that is basically an outside cash bar with little shade and NOTHING else to do . . . who came up with that? My dad and I lucked into some free pins, but after a quick look around that joint, we left - never to return. There are plenty of bars with (gasp) air conditioning, and their prices are only $1 or $2 higher (well worth it for comfortable chairs AND air conditioning!) <br /><br />One of the best couple of (daylight) hours we spent was at a local pub which threw together a tasting. Xavier's Pub charged $10 to get into their tent-covered side lot, and had 20 different spirits available to taste. Many were small/micro craft distillers, but Hunter Chavanne with KBD was there (and had not only their stock offering, but some nice aged Willett Estate bottlings!) We learned of this glorious event by bumping into an organizer at Toddy's early Thursday morning.<br /><br />We had a great time, but more for the informal, unofficial get togethers. There is definitely untapped potential - if other bars followed suit with Xavier's Pub and put on similar tasting events, they could probably swing having one distillery sponsor them and offer reasonably priced tasting opportunities. I'd have paid $20 for a tasting of various Heaven Hill products and chat with Bernie! Gary Turnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-3663158877907482232012-09-17T22:47:14.223-05:002012-09-17T22:47:14.223-05:00As a first-time attendee I would agree with everyt...As a first-time attendee I would agree with everything in this post. I went back to my Shepherdsville lodging almost every night and wondered what I should do. I ended up spending most nights (and most of my entertainment budget) in Louisville on the Urban Bourbon Trail. It's sad that money could have, and by all rights should have, stayed in Bardstown. I really expected more bourbon related things at the Bourbon Festival and may or may not go back in future years.Eric Burkehttp://bourbonguy.comnoreply@blogger.com